Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It gives me great pleasure to rise this afternoon to talk about the Cairns Men's Shed and the fantastic work they're doing in my community. The Cairns Men's Shed has come along in leaps and bounds over the past few years and is widely regarded as one of the best sheds around. During the recent break I had the opportunity to visit the Cairns Men's Shed to present the 1,750th Indian myna bird trap made in the shed by its members. The Indian myna bird trap, which is now used in countless men's sheds around the nation, was designed by Cairns man Ron Moon.

It's been a wonderful initiative that has produced some great results in ridding this pest from our suburbs. It's estimated that well over 80,000 Indian mynas have been removed from our suburbs since the Cairns Men's Shed started constructing and selling their specially designed traps six years ago. These traps really work. People have told me that they're now seeing native birds returning to their backyards for the first time in many years. Indian myna bird traps aside, it's great to spend some time at the Cairns Men's Shed and have lunch with its members. Under the stewardship of both Clive Lee and Bob Lavington, and prior to that John King, the Cairns Men's Shed is one of the best in Far North Queensland.